Sydney Theatre Awards

The Sydney Theatre Awards are annual awards to recognise the strength, quality and diversity of professional theatre in Sydney, Australia. They were established in 2005 by a group of major Sydney theatre critics.^[1] The awards recognise mainstage and independent plays and musicals.^[2][3]

Selected award recipients

2022

The 2022 awards were announced on 23 January 2023.^[4][5]

• Best Mainstage Production: The Jungle and the Sea (Belvoir (theatre company))
• Best Independent Production: Albion (Secret House, New Ghosts Theatre Company and Seymour Centre)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Kip Williams (Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde)
• Best Direction of an Independent Production: Lucy Clements (Albion)
• Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Heather Mitchell (RBG: Of Many, One)
• Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Jane Phegan (The End of Winter)
• Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Peter Carroll (The Tempest)
• Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Merridy Eastman (Hand of God)
• Best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production: Mel Page (A Raisin in the Sun)
• Best Stage Design of an Independent Production: Grace Deacon and Kelsey Lee (Destroy, She Said)
• Best Costume Design of a Mainstage Production: Romance Was Born and Anna Cordingley (Amadeus)
• Best Costume Design of an Independent Production: Esther Zhong (Moon Rabbit Rising)
• Best Lighting Design of a Mainstage Production: Nick Schlieper (Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde)
• Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production: Tyler Fitzpatrick (Moon Rabbit Rising)
• Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production: Michael Toisuta (Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde)
• Best Original Score of a Mainstage Production: Arjunan Puveendran (The Jungle and the Sea)
• Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production: Christine Pan (Moon Rabbit Rising)
• Best New Australian Work: The Jungle and the Sea (S. Shakthidharan and Eamon Flack)
• Best Newcomer: Masego Pitso (Chewing Gum Dreams)
• Best Ensemble: The Jungle and the Sea (Belvoir)
• Best Production of a Musical: Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Global Creatures)
• Best Direction of a Musical: Cameron Mitchell (Nice Work If You Can Get It)
• Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical: Stefanie Jones (Mary Poppins)
• Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Simon Burke (Moulin Rouge! The Musical)
• Best Musical Direction: Chris King, Steven Kramer and Nigel Ubrihien (Jekyll and Hyde)
• Best Choreography in a Musical: Cameron Mitchell (Nice Work If You Can Get It)
• Best Production for Children: Yong (Monkey Baa Theatre)
• Best Production for Young People: The Deb (ATYP)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: John Robertson and William Yang

2021

The 2021 awards were announced on 31 January 2022.^[6][7]

• Best Mainstage Production: The Picture of Dorian Gray (Sydney Theatre Company)
• Best Independent Production: Symphonie Fantastique (Little Eggs Collective in association with KXT)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Kip Williams (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
• Best Direction of an Independent Production: Tasnim Hossain (Yellow Face)
• Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Eryn Jean Norvill (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
• Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Shan-Ree Tan (Yellow Face)
• Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Aaron Tsindos (No Pay? No Way!)
• Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Alfie Gledhill (The Removalists)
• Best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production: Marg Horwell and David Bergman (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
• Best Stage Design of an Independent Production: Charles Davis (Happy Days)
• Best Costume Design of a Mainstage Production: Genevieve Blanchett (Home, I’m Darling)
• Best Costume Design of an Independent Production: Esther Zhong (Three Fat Virgins Unassembled)
• Best Lighting Design of a Mainstage Production: Matt Scott (Fun Home)
• Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production: Benjamin Brockman (Symphonie Fantastique)
• Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production: David Bergman (Green Park)
• Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production: Oliver Shermacher (Symphonie Fantastique)
• Best New Australian Work: The Visitors (Jane Harrison)
• Best Newcomer: Kiana Daniele (SIX)
• Best Ensemble: Symphonie Fantastique
• Best Production of a Musical: Hamilton (Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater and Michael Cassel)
• Best Direction of a Musical: Dean Bryant (Fun Home)
• Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical: Lyndon Watts (Hamilton)
• Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Marty Alix (Hamilton)
• Best Musical Direction: Carmel Dean (Fun Home)
• Best Cabaret Production: Is This All Then? (Philip Quast)
• Best Production for Children: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (Sydney Opera House and Australian Chamber Orchestra)
• Best Production for Young People: I've Been Meaning to Ask You (The Good Room, Critical Stages Touring, ATYP and Riverside Theatres)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Gale Edwards and Tony Sheldon

2019

The 2019 awards were announced on 20 January 2020.^[8][9]

• Best Mainstage Production: Counting and Cracking (Belvoir and Co-Curious)
• Best Independent Production: John (Outhouse Theatre Co and Seymour Centre)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Paige Rattray (The Beauty Queen of Leenane)
• Best Direction of an Independent Production: Dino Dimitriadis (Angels in America)
• Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Sheridan Harbridge (Prima Facie)
• Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Meyne Wyatt (City of Gold)
• Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Janine Watson (The Happy Prince)
• Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production: Justin Amankwah (Good Dog)
• Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Shari Sebbens (City of Gold)
• Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Mainstage Production: Hamish Michael (The Beauty Queen of Leenane)
• Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Catherine Văn-Davies (Angels in America)
• Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production: Joseph Althouse (Angels in America)
• Best Sound Design and Composition of an Independent Production:
• Best Independent Musical: American Psycho (BB Arts Entertainment and Two Doors Productions)
• Best New Australian Work: Counting and Cracking (S. Shakthidharan)
• Best Production of a Mainstage Musical: Fangirls (Belvoir, Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival in association with ATYP)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Maggie Blinco

2018

The 2018 awards were announced on 21 January 2019.^[10][11]

• Best Mainstage Production: The Harp in the South (Sydney Theatre Company)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Kip Williams (The Harp in the South)
• Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Claire Lovering (The Feather in the Web)
• Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Hugo Weaving (The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui)
• Best Independent Production: Stupid Fucking Bird (New Theatre)
• Best New Australian Work: The Harp in the South (Kate Mulvany)
• Best Production of a Musical: Cry-Baby (LPD in association with Hayes Theatre Co)
• Best Cabaret Production: Since Ali Died (Omar Musa)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Love, director, Riverside Theatres Parramatta

2017

The 2017 awards were announced on 22 January 2018.^[12]

• Best Mainstage Production: Hir (Belvoir)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Anthea Williams (Hir)
• Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Kate Mulvany (Richard 3)
• Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Mitchell Butel (The Merchant of Venice)
• Best Independent Production: A View From the Bridge (Red Line Productions)
• Best New Australian Work: Shit (Patricia Cornelius)
• Best Production of a Mainstream Musical: Muriel’s Wedding The Musical (Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures)
• Best Production of an Independent Musical: Calamity Jane (One Eyed Man Productions in association with Neglected Musicals and Hayes Theatre Co)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Brian Thomson

2016

The 2016 awards were announced at the Seymour Centre on 23 January 2017.^[13] Recipients included:

• Best Mainstage Production: The Drover’s Wife (Belvoir)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Leticia Caceres (The Drover’s Wife)
• Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Marta Dusseldorp (Gloria)
• Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Colin Friels (Faith Healer)
• Best Independent Production: Antigone (Sport for Jove)
• Best New Australian Work: Leah Purcell (The Drover’s Wife)
• Best Production of a Musical: Little Shop of Horrors (Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Judi Farr

2015

The 2015 awards were announced at the Paddington RSL on 18 January 2016.^[14] Recipients included:

• Best Mainstage Production: Ivanov (Belvoir)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Eamon Flack (Ivanov)
• Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Eryn Jean Norvill (Suddenly Last Summer)
• Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Hugo Weaving (Endgame)
• Best Independent Production: Of Mice and Men (Sport for Jove and Seymour Centre)
• Best New Australian Work: The Bleeding Tree (Angus Cerini)
• Best Production of a Musical: Matilda (The Royal Shakespeare Company, Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Christine Dunstan

2014

• Best Mainstage Production: Henry V (Bell Shakespeare)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Damien Ryan (Henry V)
• Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Sarah Peirse (Switzerland)
• Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Richard Roxburgh (Cyrano de Bergerac)
• Best Independent Production: All's Well That Ends Well (Sport for Jove)
• Best New Australian Work: Switzerland (Joanna Murray-Smith)
• Best Production of a Musical: Sweet Charity (Luckiest Productions and Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Reg Livermore

2013

• Best Mainstage Production: Waiting for Godot (Sydney Theatre Company)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Sam Strong (The Floating World)
• Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Harriet Dyer (Machinal)
• Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Peter Kowitz (The Floating World)
• Best Independent Production: Cyrano de Bergerac (Sport for Jove)
• Best New Australian Work: Andrew Bovell (The Secret River)
• Best Production of a Musical: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
• Lifetime Achievement Award: John Romeril

2012

• Best Mainstage Production: Medea (Belvoir in association with Australian Theatre for Young People)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Anne-Louise Sarks (Medea)
• Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Blazey Best (Medea)
• Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Josh McConville (The Boys)
• Best Independent Production: Punk Rock (pantsguys Productions with atyp Under The Wharf)
• Best New Australian Work: Medea (Kate Mulvany and Anne-Louise Sarks after Euripides)
• Best Production of a Musical: South Pacific
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Barry Humphries

2011

The 2011 Sydney Theatre Awards were announced in Paddington, NSW on 15 January 2012.^[15]

• Best Mainstage Production: The Wild Duck (Belvoir)
• Best Direction of a Mainstage Production: Simon Stone (The Wild Duck)
• Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Cate Blanchett (Gross und Klein)
• Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Mainstage Production: Colin Moody (Julius Caesar)
• Best Independent Production: The Libertine (Sport for Jove Theatre with Darlinghurst Theatre Company)
• Best New Australian Work: The Dark Room (Angela Betzien)
• Best Production of a Musical: Hairspray
• Lifetime Achievement Award: David Williamson

References

1. Meares, Joel (2015-01-19). "Sydney Theatre Awards winners: Reg Livermore honoured as Shakespeare dominates". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
2. Blake, Elissa (2016-01-18). "Sydney Theatre Awards 2015: Belvoir's Ivanov dominates and Matilda girls honoured". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
3. Blake, Elissa (2014-12-16). "Sydney Theatre Awards: recognition for small musicals and female playwrights but snubs for Strictly Ballroom and Hugo Weaving". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
4. Pitt, Helen (2023-01-23). "From Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Mary Poppins: Sydney Theatre Awards winners". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
5. "2022 – Nominees and Winners". Sydney Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
6. "Sydney Theatre Awards". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
7. "2021 | Sydney Theatre Awards". www.sydneytheatreawards.com. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
8. Morris, Linda (2020-01-20). "Homegrown production takes out top Sydney Theatre Award". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
9. "2019 Sydney Theatre Awards announced". Limelight. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
10. "2018 | Sydney Theatre Awards". www.sydneytheatreawards.com. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
11. Jefferson, Dee (2019-01-22). "Sydney Theatre Awards dominated by The Harp in the South and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
12. Nguyen, Justine (22 January 2018). "2017 Sydney Theatre Awards Announced". Limelight Magazine. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
13. "Sydney Theatre Awards full winners list: Belvoir, Antigone & Little Shop dominate". dailyreview.com.au. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
14. Blake, Elissa (2016-01-18). "Sydney Theatre Awards 2015: Belvoir's Ivanov dominates and Matilda girls honoured". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
15. Hook, Chris (16 January 2012). "2011 Sydney Theatre Award winners Simon Stone's adaptation of Ibsen's The Wild Duck". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 April 2018.

External links

• Official website